Gateley returns to Lifetime as programming EVP

After stints with MTV and co-founding her own prodco, Liz Gateley is returning to the network where she began her career, this time as head of programming.

After stints with MTV and co-founding her own prodco, Liz Gateley is returning to the network where she began her television career, this time as head of programming.

As executive vice president, head of programming, Gateley – most recently on the seller’s side of the fence as co-founder of DiGa Vision with former MTV colleague Tony DiSanto - will oversee content creation for Lifetime and its affiliated brands across all platforms and genre teams, reporting to Lifetime and A&E executive vice president and GM Robert Sharenow.

Prior to DiGa, her run at MTV as SVP of series development under then-president of programming DiSanto saw her creating the smash reality series Laguna Beach and developing such unscripted staples as The Hills, 16 and Pregnant and Jersey Shore among others.

She began her network career at Lifetime Television in a development capacity, following a stint in the William Morris mail room.

“She is a multi-skilled executive who has proven to have an uncanny ability to hone in on the zeitgeist and help define popular culture,” said Sharenow in a statement. “I know she will be a great collaborator with my amazing team to help take Lifetime to the next level, across all platforms.”

“Tony and I have had an amazing 13-year run, and we’re proud to have made history with shows that influenced a generation,” said Gateley of her partnership with DiSanto, who will now oversee the ITV-owned DiGa. “As I join the incredibly talented Lifetime team and work to build on their great momentum, I know that DiGa is in great hands and has an amazing future, with four series greenlit in the past six months alone.”